Abstract:

There is a need to identify differences between three-dimentional objects
that seem identical to the naked eye. The ability to compare threedimentional
objects will enable one to determine wear that occured on
mechanical parts as well as to determine the accuracy by which a copy
was fabricated, whether it was done by means of a mould or by a rapid
proto typing process.
A problem encountered when companng th ~_ee - dimensional data is, to
digitize the data at the exact same relative points on both models in order
to enable comparison of all the data points with their counterparts. This is
the reason why comparison of geometric data, generated by existing
scanning systems and saved III a neutral file format, IS bound to be
complicated.
By orientating the models with one another pnor to scanlllng, data
recorded on the same relative positions can be compared. Orientation IS
done by the user with the aid of orientation tools included in the software
that was written. This software controls two scanning machines to record
the data in order to display differences graphically and statistically.